L-3 wins work for space station communications

L-3's new NASA contract will standardize communications between the International Space Station and space vehicles docking at the station.

L-3 Communications has won a $24 million NASA contract to work on communications between the International Space Station and space vehicles docking at the station.

The contract, known as the Common Communications for Visiting Vehicles program, will be used to build a data line for exchanging audio, video and telemetry data at varying rates and communications ranges, the company said.

This saves weight and space, while also consolidating communications and simplifying logistics for coordinating the docking of visiting vehicles, the company said.

Work is to be performed at L-3 Cincinnati Electronics, located in Mason, Ohio, which provides spacecraft and launch vehicle systems and avionics. L-3 also provides infrared imaging systems and sensors for NASA and the Defense and Homeland Security departments.